Turn on the Holidays November 21

Contact: Samantha Bonnette, City of Natchitoches

Phone: (318) 352-2746

Email:

11/15/15

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Turn on the Holidays November 21

A Louisiana Main-to-Main & Natchitoches Christmas Event featuring Food, Fun & Fireworks!

NATCHITOCHES – The City of Natchitoches will “Turn on the Holidays” this Saturday, November 21, 2015! Turn on the Holidays is a Louisiana Main to Main and Natchitoches Christmas event that officially marks the beginning of the Natchitoches Christmas Festival season. The event will feature live musical performances, amusements, food, lights and fireworks. Admission is free and open to the public.

Turn on the Holidays, the official start to 45 nights of Christmas lights, is an entire day of family entertainment in downtown Natchitoches. The event kicks off the Natchitoches Christmas Season as the city prepares for the 89th Annual Natchitoches Christmas Festival taking place on Saturday, December 5, 2015.

Amusement and food vendors for Turn on the Holidays will open at 10:00 a.m. All vendors will require Natchitoches Christmas tickets for purchases. Tickets may be purchased at automated ticket dispensers located along the downtown riverbank and select Natchitoches businesses.

The entertainment schedule for Turn on the Holidays begins at 11:00 a.m. with a Local Talent Showcase. Local spirit groups and dance teams participating in the annual Festival of Lights Parade on December 5th will give spectators a preview of what they can expect at this year’s festival parade. The Local Talent Showcase will take place in front of the riverbank stage from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Entertainment continues at 3:00 p.m. with a live performance by the G.Q.P. Band. G.Q.P. exudes great quality with precision and is a versatile party band playing a mixture of Southern Soul, Zydeco, Blues, Classic Rock, R&B and Swing Out jams. G.Q.P.’s focus is to provide the best entertainment for all occasions no matter the audience. G.Q.P. will perform on the riverbank stage from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

At 4:00 p.m., the Natchitoches Historic District Business Association will host a Holiday Open House. Visitors will have an opportunity to preview the latest holiday merchandise and trends at shops along Front Street. Select shops will extend business hours until 8:00 p.m. to allow for more shopping time during the Holiday Open House.

Live music continues at 5:30 p.m. with a performance by Bluesiana Red, a blues band from southwest Louisiana throwing down some real funky Blues, Rock and Roll, Soul, and R&B. The Lake Charles area band consists of dynamic musicians with more than 75 years of combined experience seasoned with spicy Louisiana flavors and down home blues. Bluesiana Red has a sound that is true to the roots of southern blues, rock and roll, boogie woogie, and cultural music. Bluesiana Red will perform from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The highlight of the evening will be the official turning on of hundreds of thousands of Christmas lights that will illuminate the Natchitoches Historic Landmark District throughout the Christmas Season. A lighting ceremony will be held at 6:45 p.m. followed by a spectacular fireworks show over Cane River Lake at 7:00 p.m.

In preparation for Turn on the Holidays, the downtown riverbank will be closed to vehicular traffic beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 21, 2015. The Church Street Bridge and Williams Avenue from Whitfield Drive to Henry Avenue will close at 6:30 p.m. to all traffic and will reopen after the conclusion of the fireworks show.

Turn on the Holidays is sponsored by grants from the Natchitoches Historic District Development Commission, and the Office of the Lt. Governor, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism.

For more information on Turn on the Holidays, please call the Natchitoches Main Street office at (318) 352-2746 or visit For more information on the Natchitoches Christmas Festival and Christmas Season, visit

About Louisiana Main-to-Main

Turn on the Holidays is a Louisiana Main-to-Main event. Louisiana Main-to-Main: A Cultural Road Show is designed to showcase the Louisiana Main Street Program and foster economic development for the Louisiana Main Street communities. Throughout the month of November, Main Street communities across the state will host various events and activities that promote cultural tourism. Louisiana Main to Main is a program of Louisiana Main Street and is sponsored by a grant from the Office of the Lt. Governor, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism. For more information on Main to Main events, visit

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